2014 World Renowned Judges

Bruno Meneguzzi

Bruno Meneguzzi’s passionfor wine runs ‘red & white’ like the wines he makes. An amateur and award winning oenologist, his accomplishments include Canadian Provincial and National medals in Cab Sauv / Merlot blends, Shiraz, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Vidal Icewine. Bruno is committed to the advancement of the Canadian wine industry and is an advocate for “Canadian terroir”. Bruno is a registered Wine Judge of Canada, a Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma holder and an Associate member of Institute of Wines & Spirits. An avid WSET instructor for the International Wine Education Guild, he hopes to share his passion and continue to instruct eager candidates at all levels of knowledge.

Jan Didriksen

Jan Didriksen was raised in Niagara wine country – an environment that clearly contributed to his passion for fine wines. This early interest in wines attracted him to the restaurant industry. He progressed through the ranks to sommelier and manager while working for Langdon Hall, The Vineyard Café at Hillebrand Winery, Vintage Inns at The Pillar and Post, SIR Corp., Pepperwood Restaurants, and Ki Modern Japanese. Jan earned his marketing degree from Brock University, and his Sommelier Certification from the Sommelier Guild of Canada at George Brown College, under the tutelage of Jacques Marie. A designation that has given him the opportunity to taste and discuss wine with producers and enthusiasts from around the world. Jan has also had the enviable opportunity help with logistics, tasting and judging at many diverse wine events and competitions. Jan joined the Fine Wine Reserve in 2007. As Cellarmaster, he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the cellar. Jan manages the Case Storage operations, including shipping/receiving, warehousing, inventorying, and wine transport.

Terry Rayner

Terry Rayner is a veteran winemaker having being involved in various aspects of wine making for 34 years. Terry’s interest in wine started in the late 1970”s and progressed through learning about winemaking through numerous Amateur competitions involving wine, beer and cider. His accomplishments included 7 Provincial Winemaker Championships, 7 Grand Champion Beer maker Championships and a number cider Championships. Terry also achieved National Championships in each category and a top 5 National ranking in each category before moving onto commercial winemaking. During the time of amateur winemaking Terry took the Judge training program offered by the Wine Judges of Canada and was admitted as a Judge in 1997. Subsequent to this, he has been involved with the Training of new Judges, in various tasting groups and as a Judge and competitor in Commercial competitions. In 2000 an opportunity arose to consult at a local winery which has progressed to a business that focuses on small winery Consulting / Contract Winemaking. The scope of wineries has included grape, fruit and cider production. The list of wineries includes: Bellamere Winery (2000-2003), Coffin Ridge Estate Winery (2006-2011), Scotch Block Winery (2008-present), Four Wheel Farm Winery (2009-present), Stonefield Acres (2009-present), and Bonnieheath Estate Lavender and Winery (2012-present). Terry is a Chemist having graduated from the University of Western Ontario and worked in the area of Polymer Chemistry for a major multi-national company for 37 years. Winemaking is a labour of love that combines both Science and Art in an intriguing array that differs with every vintage and every grape varietal.

Austin Shynal has established himself as one of the most knowledgeable and respected Sommeliers in Ontario, with a concentration in the Niagara Region. Having gained his education amongst the finest wineries and vineyards in the business, his familiarity with local industry allowed him to gain his experience as wine consultant at Hillebrand Estate Winery (Trius), Peller Estate Winery Restaurant, and Wine Country Vintners. Currently working as Estate Sommelier for Tawse Winery, he is also Director of Sales and Marketing for Minskaya Vodka. Austin’s certification as a Sommelier, his experience in the hospitality industry, his expertise as a wine consultant and his consummate professionalism lends itself to the success of his own personal business. In 2011, Austin founded Niagara Sommelier Service, a private firm specializing in cellar management, alcohol portfolio brokering, luxury beverage tourism, and restaurant consulting. Through his business, he has acted as the Estate Sommelier for Stratus Wines (2011/2012) and continues in that role as the Estate Sommelier for Tawse Winery since 2013. Ever evolving, his business has added a component ideal for business as well as private parties. With Elite fly-in Golf & Wine Tourism, along with transport partners, daily chartered trips are available to a wide selection of fully private and other exclusive top PGA rated courses, restaurants, wineries, distilleries and breweries across Ontario and internationally through the use of either fixed wing aircraft, helicopters or both.

Tim White

Tim White studied at the University of Guelph’s Viticulture program when Donald Ziraldo first introduced it in 1993. That same year, while working as a sales representative for Hillebrand Estate Wines, he was inspired by the teachings of head winemaker J.L. Groux and writer Tony Aspler (whom he met during his membership with the Ontario Wine Society) to delve into winemaking and subsequently became a member of the Amateur Winemakers of Ontario (AWO). He has achieved “Senior Grand Master Vintner” and “Master Cider Maker” status and is still actively competing. After scoring 100 points in a palate test and being selected ” Wine Taster of the Year” in 2003, Tim enrolled in and completed the Wine Judges of Canada’s extensive training program becoming a certified Wine Judge in 2005. Tim has since been actively judging amateur and professional competitions, the most recent being the Lake Erie North Shore (LENS) competitions. When not judging, he’s busy facilitating educational wine tastings and seminars in the London and Toronto areas.

John Peters

John Peters has been a winemaker for more than 20 years, with his roots in wine assessment and judging stimulated by founding members of Wine Judges of Canada. In 2002, with much encouragement from Steve Gunning, John became the Chief Steward / Competition Director for Wine Judges of Canada, a position he held for many years. John completed his judge certification in Wine Judges of Canada in 2010, and shifted from organizing to judging many amateur and commercial competitions in Ontario and Canada. John is an active member of several wine clubs in Ontario, tasting and analyzing wines from Ontario, Canada and the world. John writes and speaks about wine and food parings, on television and in social media, promoting the integration of wine culture in Canadian cuisine. John has a well-equipped wine lab, and healthy collection of winemaking equipment, stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, and glassware. John made his first Ontario Pinot Noir in 2002 and has been learning and sharing his fascination with making great Pinot Noir ever since. John has won gold and silver medals for his Pinot Noir in the Ontario and Canada competitions over the years. In 2014 John published a seminar for amateur and professional winemakers on the complexity of Pinot fermentation and blending strategies to fully capture and express the elegance of Pinot Noir. With Pinot Noir now grown in every cool climate wine region of the world, it has become one of the best expressions of regional terroir and winemaking skill for all to share and celebrate.

Craig Fleming

Craig Fleming is a member of the Wine Judges of Canada and a past winner of “The Wine Tasting Challenge” (Amateur Division). Craig shares his passion of wine, especially Ontario wines, through presenting wine education seminars & has led several seminars at the “Gourmet Wine & Food Show” in Toronto. He has achieved the Advanced Certificate from Wine and Spirit Education Trust, is an amateur winemaker, former “Director of Events for the Ontario Wine Society” and is the former Chief Statistician of the Wine Judges of Canada.

Stewart Wood

Stewart Wood is a Member of the Amateur Wine Makers of Ontario, competing with multiple classes of wines for greater than 10 years. Stewart is currently listed as a Senior Grand Master Vintner. Mr. Wood became a judge with the Wine Judges of Canada in 2003. He has judged at numerous Club Competitions, Ontario Provincial Competition and several International competitions: Winemaker Magazine International Competition (2), The All Canadians Wine Championships (2), and the Shores of Erie International Festival Wine Competition (2). Since 2003, Stewart has also been a member of a London Chapter, a Wine Tasting Group who meets monthly to judge commercial wines.

Bill Thornton

Bill Thornton was certified as a wine judge with The Wine Judges Commission of Ontario in 1995. He has served continuously since then while the WJCO has since become Wine Judges of Canada. He has served as Director of Testing and Training since 2000. Bill is also an amateur winemaker who, in 2014, defended his title as Champion Ontario Amateur Winemaker which he first won in 2013.